In October, Knoxville Police were called to the Cassell Ridge Apartments in North Knoxville, where they found Robert Reyes clinging to life. He was rushed to the hospital, where he died of his injuries.

In court documents, police said Cooke confessed to carrying the child over his shoulders and throwing him to the ground from shoulder height. Investigators also said Cooke pushed the boy into a television stand where Robert struck his head twice on the stand before landing on the floor. He also slammed the child into a bathtub.